Title

Authors

Source

Portland Phoenix

Date

8-11-2006

Pages

4

Abstract

"This Just In" piece on a recent decision by the state's Public Utilities Commission (PUC) not to open a formal investigation into suspicions that Verizon has given customers' phone records to the federal government. In May, Verizon was implicated as one of several telephone companies that released the calling records of millions of customers, ostensibly as part of federal counter-terrorism investigations. More than 400 Mainers have urged the commission to determine if their phone records are being kept private, as required by state law. Verizon would neither confirm nor deny the charges. Late last month the U. S. Department of Justice threatened a lawsuit against the PUC, saying the commission doesn't have jurisdiction in a matter involving national security. The Maine Civil Liberties Union vows to fight to move the investigation forward.